Today we talk about The Island of Free Will, a book by Heather Ann Witt published with our publishing house Europe Books.
Europe Books had the pleasure of interviewing the author, Heather Ann Witt, to get to know her better, if there was a particular moment that led her to the writing of her book The Island of Free Will, as well as what she would like to hear from her readers.
Below you can find our interview. Take a seat and enjoy your reading!!!
- Is there a particular moment in your life that led you to the writing of your book? What was it?
As a grandmother I began to think about my upcoming retirement. I was working for half the year as a teacher with the norwegian circus as a travelling school. I had plenty of free time. The other half of the year I went back to the mission field. I wanted to do something for my grandchildren that would be special to them, but also to reach ut to others at the same time. As a pastor I wanted to teach both my own grandcjildren and other children something of the message found in the Bible as regards the way we conduct ourselves, especially in our relationships with those around us. I didn’t wait unttil I had actually retired. I began whilst sitting alone durig the evenings and weekends. I decided that I would use the namrs of my children and grandchildren for the characters, (they are all the good ones!) to make the stories relate personally to them. This book would thus be a gift to each one of them with the message I wanted to give them as they grew up and make their way in this world.
- What would you say is the best audience of your book?
The book is aimed at families. The stories are meant to be fun but with a strong message to be considered and discussed. The book is intended to be read by a child or children together with a parent or grandparent. The stories can be read as just a story, but ideally should be thought about carefully and discussed. So, family time. The message should be learned and applied, thus it needs to be a shared child/adult audience. It is, I think aimed primarily at younger children, so primary school ages. Children of this age group are facing the world around them, quite often with difficulties, wondering how should I act in this situation. I feel they could benefit from interactive learning of how to begave correctly in different situations and to understand that the way we behave affects both us ourselves and those around us. Whether good or bad.
- What would you like to hear from them?
I would love to hear from my readers. I would love to hear that they have understood the message of the book. I would love to hear that they have chosen to be fruits of the right choice. It would be great to hear that they have begun to live, or have continued to live their life in a way that would lead them to the king’s home and that they are being good examples to those around them. That their conduct is having a positive effect on their families and friends. I would like to think that the book would be recommended to others and that it is enjoyted over and over again by families.
- Is there a book that you are particularly attached to and that has taught you something?
There is, of course, as a pastor and long time missionary, one book which I read everyday, and which has taught me, and continues to teach me a great deal throughout mu life of study and teaching. This is, of course the word of God, the Bible. My book is loosely based on the Bible. However, I have also read and reread the chronicles of Narnia by C.S, Lewis. These books gave me the idea of a fantasy world that relates closely to the Bible. The Bible has been my handbook for life over many years. I have learnt, though also form the Narnia books that there are different, fun ways to present the gospel, different ways to teach moral behaviour. My experience when talking to both children and adults is that many do not recognize or understand the often hidden meanings in the Narnia books, so I have tried to maker the meaning in my book a little more obvious, but at the same time, entertaining. As a foot not I wopuld say that I would never compare myself favourabley to C.S. Lewis, a great writer.
- Are you working on a new writing project you can tell us about?
Yes. I have written another book which has not yet been sent to any publisher. It was actually written before the Island of Free Will. It was written for my younger daughterwhile we wrre living in the mission hospital in Kunri in Pakistan. It is based on an actual event that happened while we there. Three girls were kidnapped. They were found after several days by the police and army. The criminals were severely punished, more so, because one of the girls was the daughter of the chief of police! I have used that event as a basis for my book, but instead of the police rescuing the girls, i have made my young daughter, who was eight at the time, and her friends, who were real, but have changed names, the heroes of the story. The book is an adventure, but also give the reader a good idea of what life in Pakistan is like. I also started a book based in the soviet union in the days of Stalin, but it has sat on the shelf unfinished for several years waiting for me to continue the story. It has been suggested to me that I write the story of my life, and adventure in itself, but I don’t think thst is going to happen !!
Europe Books thanks the author, Heather Ann Witt, once again for taking the time and answering our questions. We are really pleased to have walked alongside her on the editorial path that led to the publication of her book The Island of Free Will. We wish her the best of luck for her future works.
To you, my readers, that this book intrigues you and answers your questions and curiosities; that it allows you to make the right choices because you are aware of the good that these choices can bring to your daily and future life.
So, my dear reader, all I have to say is to enjoy your reading!
Your editor!